Microwave irradiation device and method of producing metal nanoparticles

Abstract

Provided is a microwave irradiation device for producing metal nanoparticles and a method of producing metal nanoparticles that allow preparing metal nanoparticles with small and uniform particle sizes. The present disclosure relates to a microwave irradiation device and a method of producing metal nanoparticles using the device. The microwave irradiation device includes a reaction vessel for housing a reaction solution including a raw material of metal nanoparticles, a cooling mechanism that cools the reaction vessel from outside, and a microwave irradiation source for irradiating the reaction solution with a microwave. A solid substance having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the reaction solution is disposed in the reaction vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microwave irradiation device comprising:
 a reaction vessel for housing a reaction solution including a raw material of metal nanoparticles;   a cooling mechanism that cools the reaction vessel from outside; and   a microwave irradiation source for irradiating the reaction solution with a microwave,   wherein a solid substance having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the reaction solution is disposed in the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The microwave irradiation device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the solid substance has a relative dielectric constant of 10 or less, and the solid substance is disposed in a central portion of the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         3 . The microwave irradiation device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the solid substance occupies 2 volume % to 10 volume % of a total volume of the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         4 . A method of producing metal nanoparticles by irradiating a reaction solution with a microwave, the method comprising:
 (i) housing the reaction solution and a solid substance having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the reaction solution in a reaction vessel; and   (ii) irradiating the reaction solution with a microwave while cooling the reaction vessel from outside.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the solid substance has a relative dielectric constant of 10 or less, and the solid substance is disposed in a central portion of the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein a volume of the solid substance is adjusted to occupy 2 volume % to 10 volume % of a total volume of the reaction vessel.